Hi, I'm trying to find a history of my grandfather, Lowell Edison Rainwater, who was in the Navy for many years before and through WWII. He was a survivor of Pearl Harbor aboard USS Helena. I have a scrapbook showing the USS Lexington, but I don't what years he served aboard. At one point he was RM1C. Can anyone help me with finding the ships and years he served. Thanks!
He appears in these registers...Hope this helps. Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy ... - United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel - Google Books Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve ... - Google Books Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and ... - United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel - Google Books
Rainwater, Lowell E (3556423), RM1c, USN, USS Helena received aboard from Receiving Ship New York for duty 18 Sep 1939, last enlistment noted as 17 March 1938 at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba Rainwater, Lowell E (3556423), RM1c, USN, USS Helena change rate to CRM (AA), 1 Jun 1940 Rainwater, Lowell E (3556423), CRM (PA), USN, USS Helena aboard 31 Dec 1941 So, yes, one would presume he was aboard during the Pearl Harbor attack. Rainwater, Lowell E (3556423), CRM (PA), USN, USS Helena appointed Radio Electrician USN, effective 21 Oct 1942 RM1c - Radioman 1st class CRM (AA) - Chief Radioman Acting Appointment CRM (PA) - Chief Radioman Permanent Appointment Radio Electrician - a Warrant Officer rank
The archives of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association are now held by the Pearl Harbor History Association.
Thank you so much! Thanks for the defining ranks. That was helpful as well. There are photos of him and on the back it was listed as Radio Electrician.